Image processing apparatus which adds identification data to images

ABSTRACT

An image processing apparatus previously stores information on particular kinds of image, determines the degree of similarity between an input full-color image signal and the information on particular kinds of image, controls conditions for addition of a particular pattern previously stored according to a result of the determination, and outputs an image by adding or not adding the particular pattern to the full-color image signal according to the addition conditions.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 08/085,088 filedJul. 1, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,161, which is a division ofapplication Ser. No. 07/856,996 filed Mar. 24, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No.5,757,119.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an image processing apparatus and, moreparticularly, to an image processing apparatus having a function ofadding a particular pattern to a reproduced image.

Copying machines capable of obtaining a multi-color copy having highimage qualities have been developed. With such copying machines, aparticular kind of original which should not be copied (e.g., a bill ora bank note) can be copied with high image qualities such that the copycan hardly be discriminated from the original. There is a risk of suchcopying machines being abused.

For this reason, various methods for enabling a copying machine torecognize particular kinds of original have been proposed.

However, no method has been provided which enables identification of acopying machine or a person who has made a copy, after the copyingmachine has been used to copy a particular kind of original which shouldnot be copied, and after the obtained copy has been put to a bad use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an image processingapparatus free from the above-described problems.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an imageprocessing apparatus capable of identifying, from a reproduced image, animage processing apparatus which has been used to reproduce the image ora person who has operated the processor.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an imageprocessing apparatus which has a function of adding a particular patternto a reproduced image and which is capable of suitably maintaining thequality of the reproduced image.

To achieve these objects, according to one aspect of the presentinvention, there is provided an apparatus for processing an imagecomprising determination means for determining the degree of similaritybetween an input image and a predetermined image, and processing meansfor processing the input original image data according to a result ofdetermination made by the determination means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedan apparatus for processing an image comprising generation means forgenerating pattern data, confirmation means for confirming the state ofthe generation means, and determination means for determiningexecution/non-execution of the image processing based on a confirmationresult obtained by the confirmation means.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an apparatus for processing an image comprising input means forinputting image data, composition means for combining a predeterminedpattern with the image data input by the input means, output means foroutputting the image data obtained the composition means, and controlmeans for selecting execution/non-execution of the operation of thecomposition means according the input image data and/or an output modeof the output means.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate thesame or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the construction of an image scanner 201 inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of the construction of a copying machinein accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the construction of a determination circuit409 of the first embodiment;

FIG. 4A is a block diagram of the construction of a thinning-out circuit301 of the first embodiment;

FIG. 4B is a block diagram of the construction of a frequency dividercircuit 310 of the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the construction of an integrator 306 ofthe first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of timing of a signal in the main scanning directionin accordance with the first embodiment;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams of examples of input/output of theintegrator 306 of the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the construction of a comparator module 310of The first embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the construction of a pattern additioncircuit 410 of the first embodiment;

FIG. 10 is an example of copying in accordance with the firstembodiment;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart of a procedure of setting a pattern levelselection signal PS in accordance with the first embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the construction of a pattern additioncircuit in accordance with an example of a modification of the firstembodiment;

FIG. 13 is a front view of an operating unit in accordance with a secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14A is a diagram of a displaying state of a liquid crystal touchpanel 1203 of the second embodiment when a power source is turned on;

FIG. 14B is a diagram of a displaying state of the liquid crystal touchpanel 1203 when an image repeat function in accordance with the secondembodiment is used;

FIG. 15 is a diagram of an example of the image repeat function inaccordance with the second embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of an image scanner unit in accordance with athird embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 17A and 17B are diagrams of results of processing using a patterngeneration circuit 2411 of the third embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a diagram of the construction of a system in accordance witha fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of the construction of a reader unit 201 inaccordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a sectional side view of the construction of a digital colorcopying machine in accordance with the fifth embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 21 is a diagram of the operation in an add-on mode in accordancewith the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 22 is another diagram of the operation in the add-on mode inaccordance with the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of the operation of setting the add-on mode inaccordance with the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 24 is a flowchart of the copying operation in accordance with thefifth embodiment;

FIG. 25 is a block diagram of a reader unit in accordance with a sixthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a diagram of a memory map under the control of a CPU forcontrolling the reader unit in the sixth embodiment;

FIG. 27 is a flowchart of the copying operation in accordance with thesixth embodiment;

FIG. 28 is a block diagram of the construction of an image scanner unitin accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 29 is a block diagram of the construction of a pattern additioncircuit 7410 of the seventh embodiment;

FIG. 30 is a diagram of the construction of an information processingsystem in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 31 is a diagram of the relationship between a signal CNO and aprint output.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described belowin detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Copying machines will be described as embodiments of the presentinvention, but, needless to say, the present invention is not limited tothem and can be applied to any other kind of apparatus.

<First Embodiment>

FIG. 2 is a sectional side view showing the construction of a copyingmachine in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentinvention. An image scanner unit 20l reads an original at a resolutionof 400 dpi (dots/inch) and to process a digital signal representing theoriginal. A printer unit 202 prints a full-color output imagecorresponding to the original image read by the image scanner 201 on aprint sheet at a resolution of 400 dpi.

In the image scanner unit 201, an original 204 is placed on an originaltable 91ass (hereinafter referred to as a platen) 203 while beingpressed by a specular pressing plate 200. The original 204 is irradiatedwith a lamp 205, and reflection light from the original travels viamirrors 206, 297, and 208. An image is formed from this light on athree-line sensor (hereinafter referred to as a CCD) 210 by a lens 209.Full-color information having a red-components R, a green component Gand a blue component B is thereby obtained and is sent to a signalprocessing section 211. The lamp 205 and mirrors 206 to 208 aremechanically moved in a direction perpendicular to the direction ofelectrical scanning of the line sensor (a main scanning direction) toscan the surface of the original (in a sub scanning direction). For thisscanning, the lamp 205 and the mirror 206 are moved at a speed v and themirrors 207 and 208 are moved at a speed of 1/2v.

In the signal processing section 21l, the read image signal iselectrically processed to be decomposed into a magenta component M, acyan component C, a yellow component Y, and a black component BK to besent to the printer unit 202. In one cycle of original scanning of theimage scanner 201, one of the components M, C, Y, and BK is sent to theprinter 202. One print of the reproduced image is completed by fourcycles of original scanning.

Each image signal M, C, Y or BK sent from the image scanner unit 201 issent no a laser driver 212. The laser driver 212 drives a semiconductorlaser 213 by modulating the driving signal. A surface of a sensitivedrum 217 is scanned with light from the laser led by a polygon mirror214, an f-θ lens 215 and a mirror 216.

A rotary development device 218 has a magenta development section 219, acyan development section 220, a yellow development section 221 and ablack development section 222. These development sections arealternately brought into contact with the sensitive drum 217 to develop,with a toner, an electrostatic image formed on the sensitive drum.

A paper sheet supplied from a paper cassette 224 or 225 is wrappedaround a transfer drum 223, and the image developed on the sensitivedrum is transferred to the paper sheet.

After four colors M, C, Y and BK have been successively transferred inthis manner, the print sheet is passed through a fixation section 226and is discharged after the completion of fixation of the toner.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the construction of the image scanner unit201 in accordance with the first embodiment. Blocks 210-1, 210-2, and210-3 represent CCD sensors (solid image pick-up elements) havingspectroscopic sensitivity characteristics such as to be sensitive to red(R), green (G) and blue (B), respectively. Each sensor converts ananalog input into an 8-bit signal having a value of 0 to 255 and outputsthis signal.

The sensors 210-1, 210-2, and 210-3 used in accordance with the firstembodiment are disposed at certain distances, and relative spatialdeviations thereof are corrected by delay elements 401 and 402. Blocks403, 404, and 405 represent logarithmic converters which are constitutedof look-up table ROMs or RAMs and which convert a luminance signal intoa density signal. A block 406 represents a masking UCR (under colorremoval) circuit in which each time a magenta signal M, a cyan signal C,a yellow signal Y or a black signal BK to be output is read from threeinput signals, it is output as a signal having a predetermined bitlength, e.g., of 8 bits formed in a surface-sequential manner.

A block 407 represents a spatial filter circuit which corrects spatialfrequencies of an output signal. A block 408 represents a densityconverter circuit which compensates density characteristics of theprinter unit 202. The density converter circuit 408 is constituted ofROMs or RAMs similar to those of the logarithmic converters 403 to 405.

A block 414 represents a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as aCPU) for overall control of this unit. A block 415 represents a ROM inwhich a program for operating the CPU 414 is stored. A block 416represents a RAM which is used as a work area for executing variousprograms. A block 413 represents an input/output (I/O) port which isconnected to the CPU 414. A block 409 represents a determination circuitwhich discriminates particular kinds of original.

The circuit 409 for discriminating particular kinds of originalsdetermines a probability that at least one of predetermined particularkinds of original is being read, and outputs the determination resultsas multi-value data i.e., two-bit determination signal H. The value ofthe determination signal H is selected so that the probability is higherif the value of the determination signal H is greater. That is, H="3" isoutput when the probability is highest and H="0" is output when theprobability is lowest. The determination circuit 409 also has a functionof thinning out input signals R, G, and B by a thinning-out circuit 301and a frequency divider circuit 310 described later with reference toFIG. 3.

A signal CNO ms a two-bit screen-sequential signal which indicates theorder of the four reading operations with respect to four output colors,magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y) and black (BK). FIG. 31 shows therelationship between the signal CNO and the printing output. The signalCNO is generated by the CPU 414 and supplied through the I/O port 413 tochange conditions of the operation of the masking UCR circuit 406. Thatis, the signal CNO is changed from 0 to 1, 2, and 3, the output color ofa print is correspondingly changed from magenta, to cyan, yellow, andblack.

The signal CNO is also input to the determination circuit 409 to changethe determination criteria with respect to the four reading operations,so that the determination circuit 409 can effect determination withrespect to different particular kinds of original.

A block 410 represents a pattern addition circuit in which a patternwhich cannot easily be discriminated with human eyes is added to areproduced image, i.e., a copied image according to a two-bit patternlevel selection signal PS designated by the CPU 414.

A block 420 represents an operating section which has various operationkeys and a display panel on which messages are displayed.

FIG. 4A is a block diagram of the construction of the frequency dividercircuit 310 in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentinvention, and FIG. 4B is a block diagram of the construction of thefrequency divider circuit 310 in accordance with the first embodiment.FIG. 6 is a diagram of timing of various signals with respect to themain scanning direction in accordance with the first embodiment.

A signal VSYNC shown in FIG. 6 is a sub scanning period signal whichindicates an image output period of sub scanning. A signal HSYNC is amain scanning sync signal for synchronization of the start of mainscanning. A clock CLK represents an image transfer clock which isfundamental clock for various kinds of image processing in the firstembodiment.

A clock CLK' represents a clock which is obtained by demultiplying thefrequency of the CLK to be used as a fundamental clock for thedetermination circuit 409. A signal SEL is a timing signal for use inthe thinning-out circuit 301 described below. The CLK' and SEL aregenerated by the frequency divider circuit 310 described below.

The thinning-out circuit 301 and the frequency divider circuit 310 willnow be described below.

In FIG. 4A, blocks 455 to 457, and 46l to 466 represent flip flops, andblocks 458 to 460 represent selectors. In FIG. 4B, blocks 451 and 453represent inverters, a block 452 represents a two-bit counter, and ablock 454 represents and AND gate.

The flip flops 455, 456, 457, 461, 462, and 463, and the selectors 458,459, and 460 hold data by the timing of CLK while the flip flops 464,465, and 466 hold data by the timing of CLK'.

In the frequency divider circuit 310, the inverter 451 and the two-bitcounter 452 are cleared (initialized) with the signal HSYNC which is themain scanning sync signal, and the CLK is thereafter counted to outputtwo-bit count values (D0, D1). The upper bit D1 of these count values isoutput as CLK', and a logical product of the upper bit D1 and aninverted signal of the lower bit D0 is output as signal SEL.

Consequently, in the thinning-out circuit 301, the signal R (G, or B)transferred by CLK is thinned out at a rate of 1/4 and is synchronizedwith CLK' to obtain a signal R' (G', or B'), as shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the construction of the determinationcircuit 409 in accordance with the first embodiment The thinning-outcircuit 301 also shown in FIG. 4A thins out data to reduce the load onthe processing section of the determination circuit 409. A block 302represents a color none matching look-up table ROM (hereinafter referredto as "LUT") which serves to examine color tone matching between anoriginal read by the copying machine and a plurality of particular kindsof original (securities, bank notes, confidential papers and the like).The LUT 302 is stored information representing results of determinationbased on examination of color one distributions of 32 particular kindsof original, i.e., bit information representing matching with a colortone of each particular kind of original and bit informationrepresenting mismatching with a color tone of each particular kind oforiginal. 32 particular kinds of original are all combinations of eachof 8 particular kinds of original with M, C, Y, and BK.

That is, the signal CNO which is a screen-sequential signal is input toupper 2 bits of each address in the LUT 302 and upper 5 bits of thethinned-out image signal of each of colors R, G, and B are input tolower 15 bits of the address. Determination results according to signalCNO values 0 to 3 as to whether the color tone of each pixel indicatedby the upper 5 bits image signal coincides with one of 8 tones of theparticular kinds of original with respect to each color aresimultaneously output in correspondence with the 8-bit data.Consequently, determination is made with respect to the 32 particularkinds of original by four cycles of read scanning for M, C, T, and BK.

Blocks 303-1, 303-2, . . . , 303-8 shown in FIG. 3 represent color tonedetermination circuit constructed of the same hardware, i.e., eachconstituted of an integrator 306, registers 307 and a comparator module308. Each of the color one determination circuits 303-1, 303-2, . . . ,303-8 determines a probability of the existence of the correspondingparticular kind of original in the read original and outputs a two-bitdetermination result. A block 309 represents a maximum value circuitwhich outputs the maximum of the determination results output from thecolor tone determination circuits 303-1, 303-2, . . . , 303-8. Themaximum value circuit 309 outputs a determination result correspondingto one of the 8 particular kinds of original which is most probable toexist.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the construction of the integrator 306 inaccordance with the first embodiment, FIG. 7A is a diagram of an exampleof an output from the integrator 306, and FIG. 7B is a diagram of anexample of an input to the integrator 306.

Blocks 501 and 505 shown in FIG. 5 represent flip flops which hold databy the timing of each rise of CLK'. A block 502 represents a multiplierwhich is supplied with two 8 bit input signals (A, B) and which outputsan 8-bit signal (A×B/255). A block 503 represents a multiplier which issupplied with a 1-bit input signal (A) and an 8-bit input signal (B) andmultiplies these signals to output an 8-bit output signal (A×B). A block504 represents an adder which is supplied with two 8-bit input signals(A, B) and outputs an 8-bit signal (A+B) as an addition result.

Consequently, in the operation of the integrator 306, an 8-bit signal yiwith respect to a binary input signal xi is expressed by the followingequation:

    yi=(α/255)·y.sub.i-1 +β·x.sub.i-1(1)

Values α and β in this equation are predetermined constants, and variouscharacteristics of the integrator 306 are determined by these values.

For example, when α=247 and β=8, an output yi shown in FIG. 7A is outputwith respect to an input xi shown in FIG. 7B.

An input component, such as that indicated by a point 701 or 702, havinga level "1" among other input components having level "0", or an inputcomponent, such as that indicated by a point 703, having a level "0"among other components having a level "1" can be regarded as noise. Theinput signal having such components is processed by the integrator whilesetting suitable threshold values such as values 704-1 (R1), 704-2 (R2),and 704-2 (R2) in the registers shown in FIG. 3. The output yi from theintegrator 306 is thereby two-valued to remove noise.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the construction of the comparator module308 in accordance with the first embodiment. In FIG. 8, blocks 801, 802,and 803 represent comparators, a block 804 represents an inverter, ablock 805 represents an AND gate, and blocks 806 and 807 represent ORgates. Threshold values R1, R2, and R3 mentioned above with reference toFIG. 7A are previously set in the registers 307-1, 307-2, and 307-3,respectively. A relationship R1>R2>R3 is established. From thecomparator module 308, the determination result is output by beingquantized into 2 bits. That is,

OUTPUT=11 (binary) is output if R1<(input),

OUTPUT=10 (binary) is output if R2<(input)≦R1,

OUTPUT=01 (binary) is output if R3<(input)≦R2, and

OUTPUT=00 (binary) is output if (input)≦R3.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the construction of the pattern additioncircuit 410 in accordance with the first embodiment. In FIG. 9, a block901 represents a sub scanning counter, a block 902 represents a mainscanning counter, a block 903 represents a LUT, a block 905 represents aflip flop, a block 913 represents an AND gate, blocks 906, 907, 908, and905 represent registers, a block 910 represents 4 to 1 selector, a block911 represents an AND gate, a block 912 represents an adder, and a block914 represents an inverter.

The sub scanning counter 901 counts the main scanning sync signal HSYNCwhile the main scanning counter 902 counts the pixel sync CLK. Eachcounter repeatingly counts the signal in a cycle of a 9 bit width, i.e.,512 pixels. The LUT 903 is a read only memory in which a pattern to beadded is stored, and which is supplied with lower 6 bits of the countvalue from each of the sub scanning counter 901 and the main scanningcounter 902. Only one bit of the output from LUT 903 is referred to andis combined with upper 3 bits of each of the main scanning counter 901and the sub scanning counter 902 by the AND gate 904 to obtain a logicalproduct of these bits. This logical product is synchronized with CLK bythe flip flop 905 and is combined with both lower and upper bits of CNOwhich is the two-bit screen-sequential signal to obtain a logicalproduct which is supplied to the AND gate 911. This signal supplied nothe AND gate 911 is effective only when CNO=2 (lower bit: 0, upper bit:1), that is, only when printing in yellow is being performed (see FIG.31).

Values P1, P2, P3, and P4 are previously stored in the registers 906,907, 905, and 909. The selector 910 selects one of the values P1, P2,P3, and P4 according to the pattern level selection signal PS(based ondetermination signal H) designated by the CPU 414. The value output fromthe selector 910, i.e, a pattern signal is supplied through the AND gate911 and is added to an input signal V by the adder 912. An image signalobtained by the adder 912 is output as a reproduced image signal V'.Thus, when CNO=2, that is, printing in yellow is being performed, thepattern stored in the LUT 903 is repeatedly read out and added to thesignal to be output.

In a pattern addition mode, a relationship P1>P2>P3>P4 is establishedbetween P1, P2, P3 and P4. In the selector 910,

Y=A is set when s=00 (binary),

Y=B is set when s=01 (binary),

Y=C is set when s=10 (binary), and

Y=D is set when s=11 (binary).

Therefore, pattern addition is effected so that

V'=V+P1 when PS=00 (binary),

V'=V+P2 when PS=01 (binary),

V'=V+P3 when PS=10 (binary), and

V'=V+P4 when PS=11 (binary).

The added pattern is formed with yellow toner alone so as to bedifficult to discriminate with human eyes. This method is in ended toutilize the fact that the discriminating power of human eyes is low withrespect to a pattern formed with yellow toner. Further, the arrangementis such that the level of the added pattern is variable according to theprobability of the existence of a particular kind of original in theinput original. It is thereby possible to make the pattern verydifficult to discriminate in ordinary copies with human eyes. Thepattern is added more distinctly if the probability of the existence ofa particular kind of original is increased.

In a pattern addition inhibition mode, "0" is set in all the registersstoring P1, P2, P3, and P4 to form the reproduced image signal V'without adding the pattern signal to the image signal V.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a result of copying inaccordance with the first embodiment. In FIG. 10, an added pattern isindicated at 1001. The content stored in the ROM 903 is added. In theexample shown in FIG. 10, the added pattern has two rows of characters"ABCD" and "1234 " and is formed as a pattern of 64×64 pixels such as tobe difficult to discriminate with human eyes. This pattern is repeatedlyformed at intervals of 512 pixels in the main scanning direction and atintervals of 512 lines in the sub scanning direction. As this addedpattern, a manufacturer's serial number exclusively assigned to thecopying machine or encoded pattern of this number may be formed toenable the machine used to copy a particular kind of original to beidentified by examining the copy.

If the probability that a particular kind of original which should notbe copied may exist in the read image is high, a more distinguishablepattern may be added.

In the first embodiment, the pitch at which added patterns are arrangedcorrespond to 12 pixels in the main scanning direction, and the patternsare therefore added at intervals of about 32.5 mm since the copyingmachine in accordance with the first embodiment has a resolution of 400dpi (dots/inch). A bank note of the Bank of Japan, which is a particularkind of original which should not be copied, has a width of about 76 mm,in the direction along its minor side, and the minor-side width of papermoneys of principal countries in the world ranges from about 60 to 120mm. The pattern can therefore be added always on the face of a copy ofany bank note. Even a part of any bank note copy cut out and put to abad use can be examined to read an added pattern. The model number ofthe copying machine used to copy the bank note can thereby be known.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart of the procedure of setting the pattern levelselection signal PS in accordance with the first embodiment. Processingin accordance with this procedure is controlled by the CPU 414.

Immediately after the start of copying, in step (S) 1102, "0" is set asthe pattern level selection signal PS. Next, in step 1103, the presentdetermination level H and the value of PS are compared. If the level His higher, the value of H is set as PS in step 1104. If the level H isnot higher, the process returns to step 1103. That is, the maximum ofthe recorded values of the discrimination signal H between the copyingstart to the present time is set as PS.

As described above, in the first embodiment, a particular pattern whichis difficult to discriminate with human eyes is added in accordance withthe method of identifying a copying machine, so that the pattern can beused as a key to identifying the copying machine in case where aparticular kind of original (e.g., a bank note) which should not becopied is copied. The particular pattern is repeatedly added at a pitchshorter than the width of a bank note in the direction along the minorside thereof, so that the added particular pattern can always beincluded even in a part of a copy of the bank note which is cut out tobe put to a bad use. It is possible to ascertain the copying machineused or the person who has operated the copying machine or to limitsuspected machines or persons by examining the added pattern.

Further, the degree of similarity of the read image and the particularpattern previously registered is detected. If the degree of similarityis high, it is determined that the probability of a particular kind oforiginal being copied is high, and the added pattern is intensified soas to be easy to discriminate. If the degree of similarity is low: thepattern is weakened or is not added to avoid a reduction in the imagequality of ordinary copies.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described firstembodiment. In the first embodiment, the manufacturer's serial number ofa copying machine or an encoded pattern of this number is used as aparticular pattern to be added. However, any other pattern can be addedso long as it has information which serves for identification of thecopying machine. For example, it has information such as the machinemanufacturing date, the machine lot number, and/or a machine versionname for identifying the machine.

In the first embodiment, a copying machine used to copy a particularkind of original is identified. However, the present invention is notlimited to this; a person who has copied a particular original may beidentified.

A copying machine requiring inserting an identification card foridentifying an operator when the machine is used and a machine requiringinputting an identification number are known. Such copying machines maybe arranged to add the recognized identification number or an encodedpattern of this number as a particular pattern.

The date of copying or an encoded data on the copying date may also beadded as a particular pattern.

An example of a modification of the first embodiment will be describedbelow.

The copying machine of this example has the same overall construction asthat of the first embodiment, and only different portions will thereforebe described.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the construction of a pattern additioncircuit in accordance with the modified example of the first embodiment.

In this copying machine, as shown in FIG. 12, the lower bit of thetwo-bit signal CNO is directly supplied to AND gate 913 without beingsupplied through an inverter as in the case of the first embodiment. Inthis case, the combination of the signal CNO and an output color of aprint may be selected to establish the same relationship as that shownin FIG. 31.

This copying machine also has the same advantages as the firstembodiment.

<Second Embodiment>

The second embodiment of the present invention will now be describedbelow.

This embodiment has features relating to the operating section shown inFIG. 1. This embodiment can also be applied to the arrangement usingeither one of the pattern addition circuit shown in FIGS. 9 and 12.

FIG. 13 is a front view of the appearance of an operating unit inaccordance with the second embodiment. A ten key cluster 1201 isprovided which is used to select the number of copies and to select oneof various operation modes. An asterisk (*) key 1201 is used inassociation with the ten key cluster 1201 to select the operation mode.A liquid crystal touch panel 1203 serves as both a display panel and aninput panel. A copying start key 1204 is used to start copying. An imagerepeat key 1205 is used to designate an image repeat function describedlater.

FIG. 14A is a diagram of a displaying state of the liquid crystal touchpanel 1203 in accordance with the second embodiment when a power sourceis turned on. The number of copies is designated with the ten keycluster 1201 and the designated number of copies is displayed on thescreen at an upper right position. In FIG. 14A showing the initialdisplay gate, the indicated number of copies is 1.

The image repeat function, which is known per se, will be described indetail, and only an outline of it will be given.

FIG. 15 is a diagram of an example of the image repeat function inaccordance with the second embodiment. The image repeat function isdesignated with respect to an original indicated by 1301 to enable animage, e.g., a character A, read from the original to be repeatedlyoutput onto one output paper sheet such as that indicated by 1302.

FIG. 14B is a diagram of a displaying state of the liquid crystal touchpanel when the image repeat function in accordance with the secondembodiment is used.

To designate the image repeat function, the image repeat key 1205 isfirst pressed. When the image repeat key 1205 is pressed, the liquidcrystal touch panel 1203 displays as shown in FIG. 14B. The number ofimages to be repeatedly formed is designated by being increased with anup key 1220 or by being reduced with a down key 1221 or is automaticallydesignated by an automatic key 1222. When the setting is completed, anend key 1223 is finally pressed to confirm the completion of thesetting.

In the second embodiment, there are a pattern addition mode for addingto a copying output (copy) a hard-to-see pattern to identify the copyingmachine used or a person who has operated the copying machine, and apattern addition inhibition mode for inhibition addition of the pattern.

In the second embodiment, when the power source is turned on, thepattern addition mode is selected. Ordinarily, copies are made always inthis mode. If necessary, the pattern addition inhibition mode can bedesignated by using the ten key cluster 1201 and the asterisk key 1202.For example, if the operator successively inputs

*! 2! 0! 4! 2! 9! *!,

the pattern addition inhibition mode is selected. This key input orderis not released to general users; it is released to servicemen orparticular operators. In the pattern addition inhibition mode, while thepattern for identifying the copying machine or the operator is not addedto the copying output (copy), the following restrictions upon use ormeasures are effected.

(1) In the pattern addition inhibition mode, the number of copies islimited to one to prevent a large number of copies of an original whichshould not be copied from being made an abused.

(2) In the pattern addition inhibition mode, the image repeat functionis inhibited to a large number of copies of an original which should notbe copied from being made and abused, as in the case (1).

(3) Simultaneously with the completion of copying in the patternaddition inhibition mode, the copying machine is reset in the patternaddition mode. That is, the machine is prevented from being left in thepattern addition inhibition mode so that a large number of copies of anoriginal which should not be copied can be made and abused byunspecified users.

(4) In the pattern addition inhibition mode, the date of use of thecopying machine is stored in the copying machine. Further, in the caseof a copying machine requiring inserting an identification card into themachine or inputting an operator's identification number to identify theoperator, an operator's identification number or the like is stored in anon-volatile memory in the machine. That is, if copies are abused, allinformation stored in the machine is examined to limit suspectedoperators to some extent.

<Third Embodiment>

The third embodiment will be described below.

The construction of the third embodiment is the same as the firstembodiment except that construction of the image scanner unit isdifferent from that of the first embodiment. The other units aretherefore unillustrated and the description for them will not berepeated.

FIG. 16 s a block diagram of the construction of the image scanner inaccordance with the third embodiment. Components of this embodimentcorresponding or identical to those shown in FIG. 1 are indicated by thesame reference characters and the description for them will not berepeated.

In FIG. 16, a block 2411 represents a pattern generation circuit, ablock 2413 an I/O port, a block 2414 a CPU, a block 2415 a ROM, a block2416 a RAM, and a block 2410 an AND gate.

The operation of this unit will be described below. A logical AND of an8-bit output V from the density conversion circuit 408 and determinationsignal H output from the determination circuit 409 is obtained to beoutput as V'. Consequently, when determination signal H=1, that is, itis determined that a particular kind of original is being read, thepattern generation circuit 2411 described later becomes through andoutput V'=FF (255) irrespective of the value of input signal V. Whendetermination signal H=0, that is, it is determined that no particularkind of original is being read, the pattern generation circuit 2411described later becomes through and the value of input signal V isdirectly output as output signal V'. When determination signal H=2, thatis, there is a probability of a particular kind of original being read,the pattern generation circuit described later generates a particular2-bit pattern signal which is supplied to the AND gate 2410 togetherwith determination signal H. The pattern signal and input signal V arethereby combined to form output signal V'.

FIGS. 17A and 17B are diagrams showing results of processing of thepattern generation circuit 2441 in accordance with the third embodiment.

FIG. 17A shows a processing result in a case where a particular kind oforiginal is read. An original 801 includes a particular image 803, i.e.,the particular kind of original. When the copying machine is read by thecopying machine in response to a copying instruction, an output image802 is obtained. In the output image 802, a particular region 804corresponding to the position of the particular image 803 is masked.That is, the particular region 804 is painted out, for example, bymagenta (M) if CNO=0, by cyan (C) if CNO=1, or by yellow (Y) if CNO=2.Consequently, the particular region 804 is not normally copied and theparticular original image 803 is not reproduced in a recognizable state.

FIG. 17B shows a case of reading a particular image. In this case,output signal H=2 from the determination circuit 409 is output and thepattern generation circuit 2411 generates a signal representing acertain pattern to be output. For example, as shown in FIG. 17B,information including the model number of the machine and/or the date ofuse of the machine is printed as this pattern at certain intervals overthe copy. The pattern is printed in yellow, so that even if suchinformation is printed by erroneous determination while no particularimage is included in the original, the deterioration in image qualitycannot be recognized by the user and there is no serious problem inusing the output image. If an output hard copy is printed from aparticular kind of original and is put to the same use as the original,the machine used to obtain this copy can be identified from the patternprinted in yellow.

"Particular kind of original" referred to herein denotes an originalsuch as a bank note or bill copied alone or a combination of a bank noteor bill with other originals. The present invention is applicable nomatter what the concept of "particular kind of original". For example,the image 803 may be a particular kind of original while the image 801is a particular kind of original in the example shown in FIG. 17A.

<Fourth Embodiment>

In the above-described first to third embodiments, the method ofdiscriminating particular kinds of original is applied to the imagescanner unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this, andan independent image processing unit may be arranged to discriminateparticular kinds of original.

FIG. 18 is a diagram of the construction of an image processing systemin accordance with the fourth embodiment. A block 2901 represents animage scanner, a block 2092 a video tape recorder (VTR), a block 2903 astill video camera (SVC), a block 2904 an image processing unit having aparticular original discrimination function in accordance with thisembodiment and having a frame memory, and a block 2905 an image outputunit such as a facsimile apparatus or a printer. The image scanner 2901,the VTR 2902 and SVC 2903 are shown as examples of input units of thisembodiment but these are not exclusive and a host computer or the likemay also be connected.

The construction of the image processing unit 2904 will be describedbelow. The image processing unit 2904 is provided with the determinationcircuit 409 and the pattern generation circuit 2411 described above withrespect to the third embodiment to have a particular originaldiscrimination function. The operation of particular originaldiscrimination is the same as that in accordance with the thirdembodiment and details of it will not be repeated.

The operation of the image processing unit 2094 will be described below.When an image signal is supplied from the image scanner 2901, the VTR2902 or the SVC 2903 to the image processing unit 2094, the operation ofdiscriminating particular kinds of original is successively performed byusing the frame memory and discrimination results are output to theimage output unit 2905.

Thus, the image processing unit for discriminating particular kinds oforiginals is independently provided to prevent, for example, acommunication system from communicating by using particular kinds oforiginal or outputting such originals.

In the fourth embodiment, the image output unit 2905 may be providedwith a determination circuit and a pattern generation circuit to enablediscrimination according to print signals Y, M, C and BK or Y, M and C,or R, G and B and to output images according to discrimination results,i.e., to enable discrimination with respect to any input as well as toreduce deteriorations in image quality when a determination erroroccurs.

In the fourth embodiment, the determination signal signal H is a 3-bitsignal of 0 to 2. However, it is also possible to increase the number ofbits to change the density of an added pattern (add-on information)according to the discrimination rate, i.e., the probability of theexistence of a particular kind of original.

<Fifth Embodiment>

According to the above mentioned method, a memory function for storing aparticular pattern and a composition function for combining thisparticular pattern with an output image are added and copying isperformed by combining an output image and a particular pattern having acolor tone and a density such as to be inconspicuous with human eyes. Itis thereby possible to recognize that the reproduced image is not anoriginal but a copy.

However, this method is unsatisfactory in terms of security forprevention of forgery, because the composition function for combining aparticular pattern to an output image may be removed from the copyingmachine or the memory function for storing a particular pattern may bereplaced with a memory function storing no such particular pattern tooutput an image without combining a particular pattern therewith, sothat it is impossible to identify the reproduced image as an original ora copy. This embodiment solves this problem.

FIG. 20 is a sectional side view of the construction of a digital colorcopying machine in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention. The whole machine illustrated is generally composed of areader unit 5201 and a printer unit 5203.

(Construction of Reader Unit)

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of the construction of the reader unit 5201shown in FIG. 20. In FIG. 19, a block 5100 represents an image sensorwhich is constituted of a CCD or the like and which converts read imageinformation into an electrical signal to output an analog image signalto an A/D conversion section 5101. The A/D conversion section 5101converts the analog signal into binary data, i.e., a digital imagesignal, for example, with a predetermined threshold value and outputsthe digital image signal to a color masking section 5102. An under colorremoval section 5103 removes gray components from the three-color signalto substitute a black signal. A gradation correction section 5104executes gradation processing (gamma-, brightness- contrast-, anddensity-conversion and the like). An image modulator 5105 incorporatesan unillustrated area generation circuit and executes various kinds ofimage processing by this circuit. An enlargement/reduction section 5107effects magnification changing processing.

An add-on board 5116 is connected to the body of the copying machine bya connector 5117. An image bus 5121, a signal line 5118 and a CPU bus5120 are provided on the add-on board. The CPU bus 5120 is connectedthrough the connector 5117 The signal line 5118 is always maintained inan active state by an add-on character formation section 5109 and ismade positive when the add-on board 5116 is disconnected. The add-oncharacter formation section 5109 generates an image signal based on apattern stored in a font ROM 5110. This pattern is used as a code indicaLing that an output image is not an original image but a copy image.

An image composition section 5106 combines the image signal from theoriginal and the image signal from the add-on character formationsection 5109. This composition is effected in such a manner that theimage from the add-on character formation section 5109 is output with acertain density and color tone. A pattern having a color tone and adensity such as to be positively read with a CCD or the like while beinginconspicuous with human eyes is thereby selected and an effectiveforgery prevention function is thereby achieved.

An interface 5108 interfaces with the image forming unit, i.e., theprinter and functions to effect communication with the printer unit5203, for example, by a serial communication section as well as totransmit the image signal. A system bus 5111 connects a CPU 5112, a ROM5114 and a RAM 5113 to to transmit signals relating to the operation ofthis unit. The CPU 5112 operates for overall control of the unit. In theROM 5114, a program for operating the CPU 5112 is stored. The RAM 5113is used as a work area for the CPU 5112 which performs controloperations based on the program in the ROM 5114.

An operating section 5115 has keys and switches for setting copyingconditions with respect to an image read with the image sensor 5110by,combining copying modes (conditions relating to the density, thenumber of copies and the magnification) and has a display.

(Construction of Printer 5203)

Referring to FIG. 20, the printer 5203 has a polygon scanner 5301 forscanning a surface of a sensitive drum with laser light, aninitial-stage image formation section for forming an image in magenta,and cyan, yellow and black image formation sections 5303, 5304, and 5305having the same construction of the image formation section 5302.

The image forming unit 5302 also has a sensitive drum 5318 on which alatent image is formed by exposure to laser light, and a developmentdevice 5113 for effecting toner development on the drum 5318. In thedevelopment device 5313 are provided sleeve 5314 for applying adevelopment bias to effect toner development, a primary charger 5315 forcharging the sensitive drum 5318 to a desired potential, a cleaner 5316for cleaning the surface of the drum 5318 after transfer, an auxiliarycharger 5316 for charging the surface of the drum 5318 cleaned by thecleaner 5317 to enable suitable charging at the primary charger 5315, apre-exposure lamp 5330 for erasing residual charge on the drum 5318, anda transfer charger 5319 for effecting discharging on the back side of atransfer belt 5306 to transfer a toner image on the drum 5318 to atransfer sheet.

Transfer sheets are accommodated in cassettes 5309 and 5310. Anattraction charger 5308 enables a transfer sheet from the cassette 5309or 5310 to be attracted to the transfer belt 5306. A transfer beltroller 5312 is used to rotate the transfer belt 5306 and to effectattraction charging on the transfer belt 5306.

A charge removing charger 5324 enables the transfer sheet to be easilyseparated from the transfer belt 5306. A separation charger 5325 servesto prevent an image disturbance due to separation discharge when thetransfer sheet is separated from the transfer belt. Pre-fixationchargers 5326 and 5327 serve to reinforce adhesion of toner to thetransfer sheet after the separation to prevent occurrence of an imagedisturbance. Transfer belt charge removing chargers 5322 and 5323 removecharge from the transfer belt 5306 to electrostatically initialize thetransfer bell 5306. A belt cleaner 5306 serves to remove contaminationson the transfer belt 5306.

A sheet end sensor 5329 detects and end of the transfer sheet suppliedonto the transfer belt from a paper feed section 5308. A detectionsignal from the sheet end sensor 5329 is transmitted from the printerunit to the reader unit to be used as a sub scanning sync signal when avideo signal is transmitted from the reader unit to the printer unit.

(Copying Operation)

A procedure of attaching the add-on board 5116 to the main body of thecopying machine and using a forgery prevention function in an add-onmode will be described below.

FIGS. 21 and 22 are diagrams of the operation in the add-on mode inaccordance with the fifth embodiment. FIG. 23 is a flowchart of theoperation of setting the add-on mode in accordance with the fifthembodiment, and FIG. 24 is a flow chart of the copying operation inaccordance with the fifth embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 23, an image for setting the add-on mode which is aservice mode (option) is shown on the display (no shown) of theoperating section 5115, as illustrated in FIG. 21 (step S1). In thefifth embodiment, the display is a touch panel. The operator presses akey 5401 which is one of icons in the displayed image to set the add-onmode (step S2), or presses a key 5400 in the icons to cancel (does noset) the add-on mode (step S3), thereby designatingaddition/non-addition of the forgery prevention function.

Only a person who maintains the copying machine, i.e., a serviceman orthe like is allowed to effect the above-described processing, andgeneral users cannot operate the machine in this manner. The maintenanceman cancels the add-on mode, for example, for maintenance operation,checks malfunctions or the like of the machine, and resets the add-onmode after the completion of checking.

To start user's copying operation, an ordinary copying key (not shown)of the operating section 5115 is pressed. If the add-on mode has beenset, the signal line 5118 is checked. If the line is active (step S21),the add-on board 5116 is in the attached state and the copying operationis immediately started (step S22). If the signal line 5118 is positive,that is, the add-on board is not attached (step S21), the copyingoperation is not executed and a warning message such as that shown inFIG. 22 is shown by the display (step S23). Needless to say, when theadd-on mode is not set, a maintenance operation or the like is performedby a maintenance man and the ordinary copying operation can beperformed. That is, during the copying operation, the signal line 5118is not checked.

Thus, the fifth embodiment of the present invention is characterized incontrolling the machine so that the machine is automatically disabledfrom copying when the forgery prevention function is removed by theuser.

In accordance with the fifth embodiment, as described above, a circuitfor preventing forgery can easily be added and, once the forgeryprevention function is added, the machine is automatically disabled fromcopying if an act of disconnecting this circuit, i.e., removing theforgery prevention function other than after service operations isperformed, thereby ensuring security against forgery.

<Sixth Embodiment>

FIG. 25 is a block diagram of the construction of a reader unit inaccordance with the sixth embodiment, and FIG. 26 is a diagram of amemory map under the control of a CPU which controls the reader unit inaccordance with the sixth embodiment. This embodiment has the sameconstruction as that shown in FIG. 19 except for the add-on board. Thesame functions and construction as those of the unit shown in FIG. 19will no be described and only specific features of the sixth embodimentwill be described below.

Referring to FIG. 25, an add-on board 6216 of the sixth embodiment isconnected to the body of the copying machine by a connector 6217. Animage bus 6221 and a signal line 6218 are provided on the add-on board.The signal line 6218 is always maintained in an active state by anadd-on character formation section 6209 and is made positive when theadd-on board 6216 is disconnected. The add-on character formationsection 6209 generates an image signal based on a pattern stored in afont ROM 6210. This pattern is used as a code indicating that an outputimage is not an original image but a copy image.

The font ROM 6210 storing the pattern in the add-on board is alsoconnected to a CPU bus 6220, so that a CPU 6112 can directly read thecontent of the font ROM 6210. As shown in the memory map of FIG. 26, thefont ROM 6210 is divided into a header section for storing headerinformation such as serial numbers and a font data section for storingfont data.

FIG. 27 is a flow chart of the copying operation in accordance with thesixth embodiment.

In the add-on mode, when a copy key (not shown) of the operating section6115 is pressed, header information stored in the font ROM 6210 is read(step S31). If a predetermined condition is satisfied (step S32), thecopying operation is immediately started (step S33). If the condition isnot satisfied, a warning message, such as that mentioned above withrespect to the fifth embodiment and shown in FIG. 22, is displayed onthe display (not shown), and the process is terminated withoutperforming the copying operation (step S34).

Thus, in the sixth embodiment, a certain condition related to headerinformation is imposed as a means for coping with a situation where theheader information is changed, for example, by interchange of the add-onboard, and the copying machine is controlled so as to be capable ofcopying only when the condition is satisfied. This embodiment is thusarranged by considering a situation enabling forgery, which cannotsimply determined from the attachment state of the add-on board.

In the above-described fifth and sixth embodiments, a condition relatedto the attachment state of the add-on board and condition adaptation ofheater information are respectively used as conditions for the copyingoperation. Copying may be allowed on condition that both these twoconditions are satisfied.

<Seventh Embodiment>

Although means for adding a particular pattern as described above havealso been used for black-and-white copying, it is useless to add aparticular pattern to a black-and-white copy since all particularoriginals which should not be copied are chromatic, and the quality ofthe reproduced image is deteriorated if a particular pattern is added.

The seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

A copying machine in accordance with the seventh embodiment has aconstruction in which a circuit for determination as to whether a readimage is achromatic or chromatic is annexed to the image scanner unitdescribed above as a unit of the first or third embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram of the construction of the image scanner unitin accordance with the seventh embodiment. In FIG. 28, circuit blockshaving the same functions as those shown in FIG. 1 are indicated by thesame reference characters and they will not specifically be described.As particularly different circuits, there are a CPU 7414, a ROM 7415, aRAM 7416, a pattern addition circuit 7410, and an achromatic/chromaticcolor discrimination circuit 7417 provided between the densityconversion circuit 408 and the pattern addition circuit 410.

The achromatic/chromatic color discrimination circuit 7417 determines aread image to be copied as a chromatic or achromatic (black-and-white)image. If it determines that the read image is chromatic, it makes thepattern addition circuit 410 execute pattern addition. If it determinesthat the read image is achromatic, it inhibits the pattern additioncircuit 410 from executing pattern addition.

This determination result is sent to the pattern addition circuit 7410as a 1-bit determination signal CH. CH=0 if the read image is determinedas an achromatic image, and CH=1 if the read image is determined as achromatic image.

The pattern addition circuit 7410 in accordance with this embodimentwill be described below.

FIG. 29 is a block diagram of the construction of the pattern additioncircuit 7410 in accordance with the seventh embodiment.

In FIG. 29, circuit blocks having the same functions as those shown inFIG. 9 (first embodiment) are indicated by the same reference charactersand they will not specifically be described. In this embodiment, an ANDgate 7911 which processes the determination signal CH received from theachromatic/chromatic color discrimination circuit 7417 always outputs 0when CH=0. At this time, the image signal V is output as image signal V'while no particular pattern is added from an adder 912 to the imagesignal V.

Thus, the seventh embodiment satisfies a requirement that no particularpattern should be added to an image reproduced as a black-and-whitecopy. Thus, image reproduction is effected without adding a pattern inthe pattern addition circuit 7410 to prevent any deterioration in imagequality.

<Eighth Embodiment>

In the above-described seventh embodiment, pattern addition/non-additionis controlled based on R, G, and B signals read with the reader of thecopying machine. However, the present invention is not limited to this,and the arrangement may be such that, with respect to image data (R, G,and B signals) obtained from an external unit, e.g., a host computer,determination is also be made as to achromaticity or chromaticity in thesame manner as the seventh embodiment, and pattern addition in thepattern addition circuit is inhibited for black-and-white copying if aread image is recognized as achromatic.

FIG. 30 is a diagram of an image processing system in accordance withthe eighth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 30, theimage processing system includes an external unit 8001, e.g., a hostcomputer, an image scanner 8003, a printer 8004, and a relay unit 8002.The relay unit 8002 relays the external unit 8001 and the printer 8004(image scanner 8003) and has the same components as the determinationcircuit 409, the achromatic/chromatic color discrimination circuit 7417,the pattern addition circuit 7410, the I/O port 413, the CPU 7414, theROM 7415 and the RAM 7416.

The operation of this system will be described below.

When the relay unit 8002 receives an image signal from the external unit8001, it examines the ratio of R/G/B components and determines that thereceived image signal represents a black-and-white signal if the ratioof 1:1:1. In this case, the signal is sent to the printer 8004 withoutadding a pattern by the pattern addition circuit.

In each of the embodiments 7 and 8, pattern addition is inhibited onlywhen a black-and-white copy is supplied. However, the copying machinemay be controlled in such a manner that addition of a particular patternis also inhibited when a monochromatic copy mode or a two-color copymode is designated with respect to an original.

The present invention may be applied to a system constituted of aplurality of units or to an apparatus constituted on one unit. Needlessto say, the present invention can also be applied by supplying a systemor an apparatus with a program for achieving the same effect of theinvention.

With respect to the above-described embodiments, laser beam printershave been illustrated but the present invention is not limited to them.The present invention is applicable to ink jet printers, thermaltransfer printers and the like. Specifically, the present invention maybe applied to a bubble-jet printer using a type of head which jetsliquid droplets by utilizing film boiling caused by thermal energy.

The color of the added pattern in accordance with the present inventionis not limited to yellow selected in the above-described embodiments; itmay be selected from other colors, e.g., quiet colors such as yellowishgreen and gray, and high-value colors such as light violet and lightgreen.

The means for inputting an original image in accordance with the presentinvention is not limited to the reader used in the above-describedembodiments; it may be a means using a still video camera or a videocamera or a means for inputting an image formed by a computer graphicsystem.

Needless to say, the present invention also comprises a combination oftwo or more of the above-described embodiments.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodimentsand can be variously modified within the scope set forth in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image processing apparatus comprising:inputmeans for inputting image data; composition means for combining apredetermined pattern with the image data input by said input means;output means for outputting the image data obtained by said compositionmeans; and control means for selecting execution/non-execution of theoperation of said composition means according to an image processingmodel wherein said composition means combines the predetermined patternsuch that the pattern is difficult to discriminate with human eyes whenan image represented by the image data output by said output means isreproduced.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said inputmeans includes an external input means for inputting the image data froman external unit.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidinput means includes read means for reading an original.
 4. An apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said control means selects non-executionof the operation of said composition means when said output means is setin a mode such as to output achromatic image data.
 5. An apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said control means selects non-executionof the operation of said composition means if an achromatic image datais input by said input means.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said output means includes image formation means for forming avisible image based on image data obtained by said composition means. 7.An image processing apparatus comprising:input means for inputting imagedata; processing means for processing the image data input by said inputmeans, and for outputting reproduction data for reproducing the imagerepresented by the image data; first means for determining whether ornot an image represented by the image data input by said input means isa predetermined image; and second means for adding information foridentifying the apparatus, with which the image is processed, to theimage represented by the reproduction data.
 8. An apparatus according toclaim 7, further comprising control means for controlling addition ofthe information by said second means in accordance with determinationresult of said first means.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 8,wherein said control means controls the addition level of said secondmeans in accordance with the determination result of said first means.10. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said control meansprohibits the addition of the information in accordance with thedetermination result of said first means.
 11. An apparatus according toclaim 7, wherein said first means performs the determination based oncolor distribution represented by the image data.
 12. An apparatusaccording to claim 7, wherein said first means determines the degree ofsimilarity between the image represented by the image data input by saidinput means, and a plurality of predetermined images.
 13. An apparatusaccording to claim 7, wherein said second means adds informationrelating to the apparatus identification data given by a supplier whosupplies the apparatus.
 14. An apparatus according to claim 7, whereinsaid second means adds information so as to be difficult to discriminatewith human eyes.
 15. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein theinformation is added with yellow pattern.
 16. An apparatus according toclaim 7, wherein the information is repeatedly added to reproductiondata corresponding to a single image.
 17. An apparatus according toclaim 7, wherein said second means includes a memory for storing theapparatus identification data, and wherein the memory is accessed insynchronism with image processing by said processing means.
 18. An imageprocessing method comprising:an input step of inputting image data; aprocessing step of processing the image data in said input step, and foroutputting reproduction data for reproducing the image represented bythe image data; a first step of determining whether or not an imagerepresented by the image data input in said input step is apredetermined image; and a second step of adding information foridentifying an apparatus, with which the image data is processed, to theimage represented by the reproduction data.
 19. An image processingmethod comprising:an input step of inputting image data; a compositionstep of combining a predetermined pattern with the image data input insaid input step; an output step of outputting the image data obtained insaid composition step; and a control step of selectingexecution/non-execution of the operation of said composition stepaccording to an image processing mode, wherein said composition stepcombines the predetermined pattern such that the pattern is difficult todiscriminate with human eyes when an image represented by the image dataoutput in said output step is reproduced.